Jørgen Skov Sørensen
jss@interchurch.dk
what’s on his mind
what’s on his mind
squatting in the shade
sugar cane in his right hand
dark brown skin
wearing a worn shirt
labeled lifang
what’s on his mind
observing the white
toyota land cruiser
slipping into his village
high speed
on a tarmac road
built by
friendly chinese engineers
what’s on his mind
thoughts
now
and again
interrupted
by the firm horn of
a long distance bus
disappearing into
another
world
of dreams and
imaginations
that only he knows
that will
never
be revealed even by my
firm questioning
what’s on his mind
did he cheer
watching
fc barcelona
beat
ac milan
4 – 0
in the
champions’ league quarter final
down at the
coffee house
last night
drinking
way
too much
or did he go to the mosque
seeking
ways
to perceive
passing white
toyota land cruisers
what’s on his mind
what’s on his mind
still apathetic
squatting in the
shade
several miles
after
a white toyota land cruiser
slipped
through
his village or
has he left
gone home
gone into the sun
gone to his work place
gone through the valley of death
if so
so what
what’s on his mind
what’s on his mind
Jørgen Skov Sørensen, who holds a PhD in intercultural studies from Birmingham University (UK), works professionally with international church management and theological training. About his poetry, which counts both ancient haiku and contemporary formats, he says: “I attempt to convey the impact people have on me–be it through proper conversations or via situations that are really too short to make an informed impact, however still do leave impressions and unanswered questions with me. The latter is well represented by my piece TOYOTA, which is a snap shot of a (non-)encounter in a globalized world.”